Established in 2008, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an independent body of the European Union and an essential element of Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The objective of the EU agency is to increase Europe’s ability to innovate, stimulate the development of entrepreneurial talent, and supporting innovative new ideas.
The EIT brings together leading organisations from business, education and research, areas to which the organisation refers to as the ‘knowledge triangle’, and supports the formulation of dynamic cross-border partnerships, the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (EIT KICs). The EIT KICs work to strengthen cooperation between businesses and sectors, with a special focus on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), higher education institutions and research organisations.
There are 8 EIT KICs, or 8 main partnerships:
- EIT Climate-KIC: Drivers of climate innovation in Europe and beyond
- EIT Digital: For a strong, digital Europe
- EIT Food: EIT Food connects businesses, research centres, universities and consumers.
- EIT Health: Together for healthy lives in Europe
- EIT InnoEnergy: Pioneering change in sustainable energy
- EIT Manufacturing: Strengthening and increasing the competitiveness of Europe’s manufacturing industry
- EIT Raw Materials: Developing raw materials into a major strength for Europe
- EIT Urban Mobility: Smart, green and integrated transport.
The EIT stimulates the development of sustainable, innovative and forward-looking solutions for the public and private sector, and supports the development of skills in each of the competence areas of the KICs outlined above. Together with its members and partners, EIT is Europe’s largest innovation network.
